Monday, September 14, 2009

Catching Up With Three Late Arrivals

We're active again. After a much-needed respite ... a four-night mini-vacation Down East, otherwise known as Maine, to devour a few lobsters ... we're charged up for the upcoming MAAC season.

First, though, time for a little more catching up.

Several weeks ago, we blogged about the newcomers joining conference programs. Of course, since then, there have been some late-comers to the league.

Here are three who joined programs since that last report. All three are eligible for the upcoming season.

Menelik Watson, Marist

A true "big" man, a 6-foot-8, 260-pounder from Canarias Basketball Academy in the Canary Islands. Reports are that he is a "skilled" big man.

The Red Foxes sorely needed inside help. Their only returnee taller than 6-foot-6 is Korey Bauer, a 6-9 junior who has been a role player to date. Of course, 6-10, 275-pounder Casiem Drummond, a transfer from Villanova, is eligible beginning in the second semester.

Reggie Groves, Canisius

Groves is a 6-2 guard who averaged 16 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds per game last season at Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C. He is one of three incoming guards eligible at Canisius this season. Reports indicate that he is a shooting guard who will see some playing time in what has become, at least this season, a crowded backcourt.

Dave Martens, SienaA 6-9, 220-pound forward/center who played last season for a German professional team. Although Martens was not paid a salary, his presence on that squad means he'll be forced to sit out Siena's first 12 games this season. NCAA rules mandate a player who appeared in a professional league overseas, even if not paid, must sit out one college game for every two played in a professional league. Martens played 24 games for the German team. He is described as a good long-range shooter who crashes the boards. He takes the roster spot formerly held by Corey Magee. Siena's program has been granted a medical exception to use Magee's scholarship. Magee, a senior, is still suffering from post-concussion syndrome that forced him to miss most of last season. He remains in school and will serve as a "student coach" for Siena this season.

COMING ATTRACTIONS: Keep checking in here. In the next day or two I'll make the "official" MAAC blog's preseason all-star selections. In a companion piece, I'll also pick an all-newcomers "impact" team, highlighting the five newcomers this bloggers believes will have the greatest effect on their respective teams this season.